DENVER – The herd of outdoors people who testified in favor of letting the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife take more of their money will have to regroup and try again next year.
House Bill 1321, which contained a number of provisions aimed at increasing revenue for CPW, such as raising the cap on how much they can charge Coloradans for hunting and fishing licenses, was killed Thursday by the Senate Finance Committee on a 3-2 party-line vote, with the GOP opposing the measure despite overwhelmingly supportive testimony.
The increase in the cap would have amounted to a maximum of 50 percent over current rates, which have not gone up with inflation since they were established in 2005. These increases would have been staged over a minimum of three years, and if the cap was reached, the new rate would have been linked to the Consumer Price Index to ensure CPW did not revise its rates further.
The no votes on HB 1321 came because of concerns over the process CPW went through in crafting the bill and its late introduction in the session.
Sen. Owen Hill, R-Colorado Springs, said he was conflicted over how to vote on the measure throughout its hearing, but was pushed over the edge by arguments that a failure to do something would result in reservoirs being shut down for want of aquatic nuisance inspection stations.
That struck a nerve with Hill because during the budgeting process, lawmakers set aside $4 million to backfill a shortfall in funding for such stations while a long-term solution, which HB 1321 represented, was found.
“We’re literally 15, 16 months away from not having funding on these things, and we’re already talking about shutting it down,” Hill said.
The late hour of the session was the basis for the single voice of opposition during the hearing Thursday.
Kelly Maher, executive director of Compass Colorado, called the bill a fatally flawed piece of legislation that was being pushed through on too short of notice.
Sen. Don Coram, R-Montrose, and sponsor of the bill, however, stood by the need to do something to replenish the 22 percent drop in buying power for CPW from the lack of inflation adjustment.
Coram said a big issue he had with individuals who asked him to oppose HB 1321 was a disconnect between outdoors pursuits and other forms of recreation.
“You won’t pay for a senior fishing license, but you’ll pay a $49.50 green fee?” Coram said.
In addition to price hikes for hunting and fishing licenses, a study of how people who don’t hunt or fish can contribute to CPW’s sustainability also died with Thursday’s vote.
lperkins@durangoherald.com
Poll: Would you support a new fee to help fund Colorado Parks & Wildlife, such as a special sales tax on outdoor recreational equipment or vehicle licensing fee?
Yes - 581 - 47.01%
No - 655 - 52.99%
